The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 52
However, despite finding it pathetic, I couldn’t simply refuse to talk and leave things be. If Asar didn’t clearly understand why I wasn’t actively intervening in that matter, it could eventually turn into a source of trouble. The king firmly resolved to tell him the cruel truth rather than just lecturing him.
“Tsk, tsk, Asar. Originally, that village and the vast lands surrounding it belonged entirely to Jupiter. They withdrew because the nymphs were extinct and they had no particular reason to dispute territory with our country. If they were to bring old maps and claim that territory, what could we say? We would have no choice but to retreat.”
Asar’s eyes darted back and forth at these shocking words.
“That… that’s….”
“Were you planning to wage war against Jupiter over handing over one nymph? Even if you searched the entire continent, no one would dare stand against Jupiter except for the Helia Empire. Tell me how you would deal with the spirits they command, their powerful magic, and the border guards who rain arrows from the sky. And that’s not even considering the burden of becoming their enemy after the war ends.”
“……”
Asar was now completely silent.
According to his recollection, this was the first time his grandfather had ever uttered the fearsome word “war.” He was someone who rarely even mentioned the Helia Empire unless absolutely necessary.
“What you need to abandon is not the Viscountess Kania, but your futile desires, Asar. You have such a long way to go… Tsk, tsk, I’ve been too lenient with you out of pity for losing your father. That’s enough, go inside, cool your head, and rest.”
With that, the king left the cathedral without looking back.
Left alone, Asar felt an indescribable sense of misery. He had believed he could handle inheriting the crown anytime with dignity, though he had mastered all the principles of the world, but that was just his own delusion.
War? The Kingdom of Devran? That could never happen. Just imagining his head being severed and displayed on a pike made him dizzy. The graves of his ancestors would be desecrated, and the kingdom’s history would end that day.
‘Ha, hahaha…’
And even in this situation, the Helia Empire gets mentioned. Kamil, you bastard. You’ll probably never know how I feel right now, will you?
Much later, as he trudged back to his chambers after leaving the castle, a royal knight approached him.
“Your Highness.”
Could this guy have tattled to grandfather? In this situation, where everyone seemed suspicious and I could barely contain my indignation, a letter was suddenly thrust toward me.
“What is it?”
“A personal letter has arrived for Your Highness from the Imperial Family of Helia.”
“What?!”
My mind instantly cleared. If the Empire had sent something, it should have gone to grandfather, not to me. As the Viscountess Kania had pointed out, I was merely a prince, not the king. Taking the letter and turning it over, I confirmed that indeed, the recipient’s name was Asar Devran—it had been sent to me.
“No way…”
“I shall take my leave now.”
In my urgency, I stood there, tore open the seal, checked the contents, and immediately twisted my expression in displeasure.
The sender was none other than him, Kamil Erdri Helia! It was from the Crown Prince of the Helia Empire, and the matter was simple. He will be visiting Devran sometime this year, no later than before autumn. To make a pilgrimage to a holy site within the Kingdom of Devran. So he wanted to meet face to face then.
However, my judgment differed.
This letter was undoubtedly sent by the Imperial Court using the Crown Prince’s name. We weren’t personally close, and the entirety of our intimate contact consisted of exchanging greetings just once when I visited the imperial capital. In reality, there was no friendship between us.
‘Damn it. What’s this about seeing each other when we barely know each other? The Imperial Court is giving me an advance warning to treat him well! This is unfair. I’m a proper prince too, and they’re threatening me to bow and scrape in front of him?’
I had enough sense to understand why such a letter had arrived.
As the Helia Empire had been established by annexing multiple kingdoms in a short period, there was considerable discontent among descendants who had fallen from royalty to nobility.
As a strategy to suppress this, they prominently advocated a religion believing in Helios as the one true god. Because of this, despite their extremely precious status, members of the imperial family would make pilgrimages to visit holy sites existing in other countries.
‘Wait. If I recall correctly, there used to be a holy site honoring Helios in Jupiter as well?’
This is an opportunity!
In a flash, Asar came up with a brilliant idea and smirked.
The momentous visit of the Imperial Crown Prince himself. And being part of a holy pilgrimage schedule, it would not likely be canceled without significant cause. Kamil was the Emperor’s only direct son, so this was probably a plan to strengthen his legitimacy for inheriting the throne.
‘He said within this year, so I’ll wait patiently. I’ll keep quiet for now, and when he comes, I’ll casually bring up the nymph while mentioning that there used to be a holy site in Jupiter as well. If I can only stimulate his vanity about making a perfect pilgrimage while he’s already here in Devran….’
The one insisting on this would be the Crown Prince of Helia Empire, and the Kingdom of Devran, being powerless, would merely be graciously lending the way. Add to that the excuse of a human-born nymph forcibly taken by Jupiter.
